Method and apparatus for instantaneously measuring and indicating fuel consumption rate

An apparatus for instantaneously measuring fuel consumption rate comprising:

• first detecting means for generating a first signal synchronized with the revolution of an engine of a vehicle;
• second detecting means for generating a second signal corresponding to an operating parameter indicative of the amount of fuel consumed by said engine;
• third detecting means for generating a third signal corresponding to running speed of said vehicle;
• first computing means connected to said first and second detecting means for operating on said first and second signals to compute the time required for the consumption of a predetermined unit fuel amount and generate a fourth signal corresponding to said computed time, said first computing means including a clockpulse generating circuit, integrating means and a pulse generating circuit which includes a flip-flop and a voltage comparator, one input terminal of said flip-flop receiving said first signal, one output terminal of said flip-flop being connected, through an integrator circuit having a capacitor, to one input terminal of said voltage comparator, the other input terminal of said voltage comparator receiving said second signal, an output terminal of said voltage comparator being connected to the other input terminal of said flip-flop, and said integrating means being connected to said clockpulse generating circuit and the other output terminal of said flip-flop and generating said fourth signal;
• second computing means connected to said third detecting means and said first computing means for operating on said third and fourth signals to compute the distance traveled per said unit fuel amount and generate a fifth signal corresponding to said computed distance;
• and
• indicating means connected to said second computing means for indicating the rate of fuel consumption in accordance with said fifth signal.

Method for instantaneously measuring fuel consumption rate comprising:

• detecting the rotational speed of an engine of a vehicle;
• detecting an operating parameter of said engine;
• applying an output signal of said rotational speed detecting step to one input terminal of a flip-flop;
• integrating one output signal generated at one output terminal of said flip-flop;
• comparing the integrated output signal with an output signal of said operating parameter detecting step to generate a compared output signal;
• applying said compared output signal to the other input terminal of said flip-flop to generate at the other output terminal thereof a first signal having a time width corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed;
• counting constant frequency clock signals for the duration of said first signal and generating a second signal when the count of said clock signals reaches a predetermined value;
• generating a third signal having a frequency corresponding to the speed of said vehicle;
• counting said third signals in synchronism with said second signal;
• and
• indicating the result of the counting of said third signals.

An apparatus for instantaneously measuring fuel consumption rate comprising:

• a first circuit for generating a fuel consumption signal whose time width corresponds to a fuel amount consumed by an engine mounted on a vehicle;
• a second circuit connected to said first circuit and a clockpulse generator for measuring the time width of said fuel consumption signal by counting clock pulses of said clockpulse generator to generate a unit fuel consumption signal at every predetermined fuel consumption and a reset signal slightly after said unit fuel consumption signal;
• a third circuit generating a travel distance signal whose frequency corresponds to a travelling distance of said vehicle;
• a fourth circuit connected to said second and third circuits for integrating said travel distance signal to generate an integrated distance signal, said fourth circuit being reset by said reset signal;
• a fifth circuit connected to said second and fourth circuits for storing said integrated distance signal to generate an output signal, said fifth circuit being reset by said unit fuel consumption signal;
• and
• a sixth circuit connected to said fifth circuit for displaying the output signal stored by said fifth circuit.